Bottle stopper



Aug. 10, 1943.

s.- R. DUMMER BOTTLE STOPPER Filed July 12, 1941 SAMUEL R.DUMMER INVENTOR ATTORNEY V or shell of the stopper; and

.-. Fig.5 is an ,ployed.

Patented Aug. 10, 1943 QBOTTLE sToPrER g Samuel R. Bummer, Dunellen; J r a: Application:July12,1941,SerialNO.4:02.115 I 7 Claims. 01. 215;2-1

This invention relates to new and useful :im-

movements in bottle stoppers and has particular relation to a non-refillable bottle stopper.

bottle in a steady flowing stream Without interw mittent interruptions and without he necessity of shaking the bottle and which will permit'ofthe draining of the bottle'to the last dro of its contents.

having the characteristicsstated and which cannot be removed from the bottle or tamperedwith to permit of refilling of the bottle withoutevident and-destructive mutilation'and which stopper may be inexpensively manufactured oif iner'tfinsoluable, non-warping "material, preferably a plastic molding material, and which maybe easily-and quickly applied to abottle and will not con-- taminate the contents thereof and inwhich-the 'control valve construction is such that it will not leak about its seat and is not influenced against proper movements by friction, capillary attraca tion, manipulation or by any contacts or encumbrances. Other objects and advantageswill become apparent from a'consideration of the'follow-in-g detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactoryembodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within thespirit of the invention and the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is an enlargedvertical central sectional view throughmy improved stopper the same-being shown as mounted'in a bottle neck and the bottle being in upright vertical position; J

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but-with bottle in apouring-position; v

Fig. 3 isa side elevationalview of the inner member or shell of thestopper;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the outer member elevational view of theva'lve em- Actual tests made with the' stopl r' or the ina bottle stopper A further object is to-provide a bottle stop-per 'wire into the stopper are vfruitless as zheayy wire vention'in placevin the neck oi afbottle'estabhsh the following facts: I 1 s v =1 Liquid cannot be foroed into the bottle-while -it;is in upright :position; i

- ':2. ;Liquid willnoL-enter the bottle We vitris submerged at any angle. -inrushing l iquid= forces the valve to its seatwvhere it is theldrbyadhesion v and the pressure of the liquid-in the valve cham- "her"; V e 7 3. Liquidcannot enter thebottle by ag iatwn *of the latter I While -submerged I for j.the'='reasons that-'thevaIVe is seated 2as?desc1 ibedin'nu mber 2-;

4; Liquid {cannot be, iforced in-to the 'bottle jby anyfvacuum method regardless :ofthe position-rim which the bottle when ,andregardless 0f the speed at. which the liquideis allowed or causedsto flow; the pull from i the, lvacuurnwithin and the pressure of the liquid without snaps'the-yalveto its seat; and I V 1 5. Efior-ts to obstruct the valve' 'by,.inserting.ra

could :not. be forced to :make the turns necessary to reach into the valve 'chamber and :light wire 'i'coiledor crumpledup, duetof'its fiexifbilitmwhen forced intoithe:stoippen- Referring in .detail-to' thedra Lingatyifl issgeirerally indicated the neck portionof a bottleand in its inner "surface adj aiccnt-its-open zor pouring 7 :end the fbo ttlernec'k lid is provided Withan annular I :grooveor-recessl My improved stopper :ic m:-

zprises, essentiallyyan outer -shell 'or member 112,

:an inner-shel-lor member l iiandfa valve I 4. Prefer'ably theselparts'are'molded'ofia suitable plastic and to disoouragewtaniperin'g the-parts should iberof 'toughmaterral :sothey will not chip, crack or break onbeing tamperedwith byianyflegree-of --force,zorwlcy breakage in manufacturing er -assentjibly to :b'ottles. When the :parts are molded of 9 a plastic they may beproduced.inexpensivelysin; very large quantities:"atflovv =co'st. Additionally .the parts may be colored or :ornamented 'ori have trade-marks em'hossed or sprinted thereon.

'EOuter' shell 1'2 -comprises'ra cylindrical-body having an annular groovelointtsouter'rsurfaee cat, as will appear.

towardits innervor lower' en'd. At its upper end :the: shell is radially enlarged providing a -head- "like portioni iI-having .aii-downwardly'racing sh'oulder'lfi; theinterior-surfacepints head 5' likeporti'on' shell 21-? -'is'-iprovide'd wishes arm'ular of su'ch g cove groove 19 and rsligh ly inwardlyi withsan annulanshou ld'er' E21]. The'lower -'o'r -1 end "of sh'ell 1.2 artly closed 5b s ma 2 i glee ther'ethroug h andsut h 'i'de flat-providing a valve p, endomts mwer side 'is can r relation with thegasket 3'l.. Ring 35 securely locksthe stopper the bottleneck-andcompressed gasket. 31 jseals back or curved as at 23 whereby there is no abrupt shoulder to prevent the contents of the cylindrical body Q5 of the outer shell of the bottle entering the pouring opening 22 when the bottle is tilted.

Inner shell l3 comprises a cylindrical body 25 radially enlarged toward its inner end to provide stopper. Thus any tilting of the bottle to cause the valve to slide on the wall 2| from the 'position shown will not uncover or expose the open- I ing 22 through such wall.

The diameter of the valve is such with respect to the diameter of the valve chamber 35 and the surface .32 is the shape or contourof that of a 7 portion of a sphere, less than a half-sphere, and opening through its flat side the valve has a t recess-33. The-recess 33-is approximately hemispherical being struck ona radius" l'essthan that 'ofthe outersurface '32- of-the valve. Thusthe valveis heavier in its edge-portions and has a curved; side and a flat side." The weight of'the "va-lve is generally in the neighborhood of 10 to 11 grains depending on the size of the stopper in 'which the-valveisused I The stopper of the invention is assembled by dropping a valve l4, flat 'sidedown, into the outer shell I [and thereafter mountingthe inner shell IS in the outer shell. This last is accomplished by applying a split spring: ring 34 in the groovel'l of the innershell and forcing the inner 1 shell into the outer shell until the said ring 34 snapspartly into the groove' l9 in the inner surfaceof theportion l1- oftheouter shell and'the shoulder"28/of-the inner shell. is against the shoulder 20 of the outer shell. In "this way the shells are locked together with the valve 14 .lo-

cated in the space above the wall 2l'and below the cup-like member 30 and which space is desig- :nated*-and is hereinafter referred-to as a valve chamber-The locking -ring 34 is concealed and to force apart the inner and outer shell requires "the. fractureand breakage of one or both of such .shells..-' m

Now. asplit spring ring 36 is mounted in the groove l6 and assuming. that the bottle has been filled a gasket 31 :of cork'or other compressible.

material is appliedto the outerend of the bottle neck and the assembled stopper is forced into the bottle neck as into the positionof Figs. 1 and 2.

There the split ring 36. has snapped into'. the

groove II in the bottle neck and at such time.

the stopper has been forced into the bottleneck to an extent to bring the shoulder l8 of the headlike portion ll of the outer shell into compressing in place in against leakage between the bottle neck. and the outer surface of shelllZ. Acork or othersuit;

able means 38 is theninserted into the passage .31 through the body 25 of the inner shell and maybe sealed in place many suitable or desired ,mannerbut adapted for extraction when any or all of the contents .of the bottle are to be poured.

Whenthe bottle is uprightas inFig. 1 thevalve =I4 is over. and closing the opening 22 preventing movement of liquid into thebottlea The diameter of the valveis greaterthan that oftheopening 22 and in fact the valve is of such diameter asto cov r said, opening even when one. .edgeof t lie' .valve is against the n Surface of the:

distance between the wall 2| and the bottom wall of the member 39 that the valve cannot be invertedin chamber 35 andwhen the bottle is .tilted for pouring as in Fig.2 the valve fall back from the wall 2i to the position shown. Thus in Fig. 2 the valve has fallen back against and partly into the member 3!! leaving the pouring opening 22 exposed.

. The valve is tipped to this positionfreely due to gravity and to the weight and concussion of the liquid contents of the bottle on the-area of the .valve exposed to such liquid, and is partly held in this position by its outer edge contacting the decreasing circumference of the inner edge of the cup-like member 30. .And liquid passing out through the opening 22 and over the valvemaintains. it in open position-and the liquid passes outwardly. of .the stopper about. member 30 and between straps 29 and through the passage ,3l as suggested by the outgoing arrow in Fig. 2. At this same time air is entering the bottle above the liquid stream as suggested by the ingoing arrows.

atthi tim rthe valve is submergedin the liquid the air moving as suggested cannot engage the valve totilt it. back to closed position. qOn the bottle being returnedto upright position-the valve falls ,back to its seat and on any attempt to force liquid into the bottle while the same is positioned as in Fig. 2 the liquid washesor forces .the valve to its seat, and as the air in the bottle cannot escape fillingis prevented by any such method. a q 7 Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: i H V q 1. In a-bottle stopper, an outer cylindrical shell open'at its outer end, a wall partly closing the inner end of said shell and having a pouring opening about. which the wall forms a valve seat, an inner cylindrical shell disposed in the outer end portion of the outer shell and having a pouring opening therethrough means locking said shells together, a disc-like valve-insaid outer shell, and having a flat under side adapted to seat on said wall and closethe pouring opening .therethrough, said valve of such diameter with respect to the interior diameter of said outer shell as ;to close said opening in any position of the valve with its flat side against said wall, an inverted cuplike means in said outer shell below ;said inner shell in position to limit;movement of the valve away from said wall and to partly receivethe valveuon tilting of the bottle to permit of the pouring of its contents, said'valve of such thickness with respect to the distance between said wall and the lowermost part of. said cup-like .means as to be. locatedentirely inwardly of the latter when;disposed with its fiat side. seated on said wall, andstraPs onsaid inner. shell andsupporting said cup-like/meansin completely spaced concentric relation, to said'outer' shell whereby {to provide a uniform space entirelyabout said cup-like means between it and the outer shell.-

2. In a bottle stopper, an outer cylindrical shell open at its outer end, a'wallpartly closing the .inner end of said shell and having'a pouring opening about-which the wall forms a valve seat,

an inner cylindrical shell disposed in the outer shells togetherya disc like'valve" in said outer shell and having a flat-under side adaptedto seat on said'wall' and close the pouring opening'there- 'through, aninverted cup-like means in said outer shell below said inner shell in position to limit movement'of the'valve away from said wauane to partly receive the valve on tilting 'of theb'ot tle to permit of the pouring of its contents, said valve of suchthickness with respect to the distance between said wall and the lowermost part of said cup-like means as to be located entirely inwardly of the latter when disposed with its fiat side seated on said wall, said cup-like means of greater diameter than the interior diameter of the pouring opening through the inner shell and preventing tampering with said valve, and straps on said inner shell and supporting said cup-like means incompletely spaced concentric relation to said outer shell whereby to provide a uniform space entirely about said cup-like means between it and the outer shell. a

3. In a bottle stopper, an outer cylindrical shell open at its upper end, a wall partlyrclosing the lower end of said shell and having a pouring opening therethrough, said wall having aflat upper surface forming a'valve seat about said opening, an inner cylindrical shellin the upper portion of said outer shell and of an internal'diameter substantially the same as that of said pouring opening, means in the outer shell and locking the inner and outer shells together, an inverted cup-like means of greater diameter than the inner diameter of the inner shell and or" less diameter than the outer diameter of the inner shell, a pair of strap-like portions supporting the cup-like means within the outer shell and in spaced substantially concentric relation to the walls thereof to provide a uniform passage en tirely about the cup-like means, said strap-like portions of substantially less width than the spaces between them to provide for the free flow of liquid between them, said cup-like means and said fiat wall surface defining a Valve chamber within the outer shell, a disc-like valve in'said chamber and of greater diameter than said cuplike means and including a flat side to seat on said fiat wall surface and closing the pouring opening through said wall, said valve and outer shell comprising molded plastic parts whereby their mentioned surfaces are fiat and whereby the valve is the proper weight, saidinner shell comprising an integral molded plastic structure including said cup-like means and said strap-like portions, and the space between said cup-like means and said wall greater than the thickness and less than the diameter of said valve.

4. In a bottle stopper, an outer cylindrical shell open at its upper end andvpartlyclosed at its lower end by a wall having a pouring opening therethrough, an inner cylindrical shell in said outer shell and having a pouring opening therethrough, means within the outer shell and concealed by said shells and locking them together, narrow strap-like portions extending downwardly from the inner shell, an inverted cup-like meanssupported from the lower ends of said strap-like means in spaced substantially concentric relation with the inner surface of the outer shell and in combinaion with the lower wall of the latter.

defining a valve chamber, said cup-like means of less than the outer diameter and greater than the inner diameter of said inner cylindrical shell, and a disc-like valve in said chamber and adapt- I the latter and said wall.

edt'o close the opening through said lower wall "(lithe outer 51 1 811," and said Olitl ShlLdlfllfll shell and; valve. each comprising a one-p ece molded-plastic structure wherein the strap li-ke portions and "cup like means are integral parts of the inner shell. c

' '5. a" bottle stopper; an outer 1 member including a v, cylindrical skirt portion adapted to be to provide a wall "partly closing the lower end of the said portion but having a pouring-opening therethrough, -a groove in the outerside of said thickened portion for cooperation with alocking means, said member,beingfoutwardly thickened at its upper end providing a portion to overlie the outer end of, a bottle neck receiving said v skirt portion, an, inner member in said outer member and including, a thickened portionreceived in the outwardly thickened portion of the outer member, said inner member having a pouring opening therethrough, integral substantially strap-like members extending downwardly from the thickened wall portion of the inner member, an inverted cup-like means integral with and supported by said strap-like portions in spaced substantially concentric relation with' said skirt portion and in combination with the lower wall of the latter defining a valve chamber in the outer member, complemental groovesin the inner surface of the outwardly thickened portion of the outer member and the outer surface, of the thickened portion of the inner member, complemental shoulder portions on the inner and outer members and limiting insertion of the former into the latter to definitelylocate said cup-like means 7 5 relative to said wallf toaccurate'ly define said valvechamber. said'complementakgrooves in said inner and outer members located'toregister on engagement of said complemental shoulders, a

split spring locking ring adapted to cooperate with said complemental grooves on registration of the latter to lock the members together with said shoulders in engagement, and a valve in said chamber adapted to seat onsaid lower wall to close the pouring opening therethrough.

6. In a bottle stopper, an outer cylindrical,

said inner member, including narrow straps de-" pending from its cylindrical portion, ahollow cup-like'means of less external diameter thanv said inner member supported only by said straps in spaced relation to the cylindrical portion of the inner member and in spaced substantially concentric relation to the outer member whereby the cup-like means is uniformly spaced from the outer member, saidcup-like means arranged with its open side toward said wall and valve seat and therewith defining a valve chamber, a disc-like;

valve in said chamber and having a flat-side sur face to seat on'said wall and close the opening therethrough,:and said valve of substantially the internal diameter of saidouter member and a diameter greater thanthe inner diameter of said a the distance between cup-like means and than 7; In a bottle stopper, an outer cylindrical member open at its upper end, a wall partly closing the lower end of said member and, having a receivedina neck-of a bottle, said skirt portion being inwardly thickened toward its lower end pouring. opening therethrough, said wall having a fiat outer surface forming a valve seat about said opening, an inner member including a cylindrical, portion in the upperportion V of the outer member, means locking said members together,

an inverted cup-like means of less external diameter than said inner member; 7 narrow straps member and in spaced relation to said wall to de depending from the cylindrical portionoi the inner member and supporting said cup-like means substantially concentric relation to theouter .flne therewith a valvechamber, a disc-lilre alve .in said chamber and haying a. flat side to seat-on said wall and close said pouring opening-said ;v lve of greater diameter than the cup-likerneans clined to nq r p ivn-r 10 "1:

i SA EL DUMM 

